Tag: Terrance McKinney

Terrance McKinney vs. Ismael Bonfim joins UFC 283 lineup in Rio

Terrance McKinney will look to snap Ismael Bonfim’s winning streak in enemy territory.

[autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag] will look to snap [autotag]Ismael Bonfim[/autotag]’s winning streak in enemy territory.

McKinney (13-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) meets Bonfim (18-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on Jan. 21 at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie following McKinney’s social media announcement on Monday (via Twitter):

McKinney continued his impressive first-round finish streak when he submitted Erick Gonzalez at UFC on ESPN 40 in August. The 28-year-old has won six of his past seven, with his lone loss in that stretch coming to veteran Drew Dober.

Winner of his past 12 in a row, Bonfim punched his ticket to the UFC by defeating Nariman Abbasov at Dana White’s Contender Series 53 in September. He will join his brother Gabriel on the card, who takes on Mounir Lazzez.

With the addition, the UFC 283 lineup includes:

  • Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno – for flyweight title
  • Jessica Andrade vs. Lauren Murphy
  • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Mounir Lazzez
  • Zarah Fairn vs. Josiane Nunes
  • Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brad Tavares
  • Ihor Potieria vs. Mauricio Rua
  • Paul Craig vs. Johnny Walker
  • Ismael Bonfim vs. Terrance McKinney

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Video: What to make of Terrance McKinney’s polite callout of ‘The Rock’ and UFC’s shoe deal?

Terrance McKinney expressed displeasure with the UFC’s new footwear partner in a message to its spokesperson Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Recently, the UFC gained another promotional partner in “Project Rock.”

The company which has Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as its face is now the official footwear partner of the UFC – but without any reported earnings, at least not yet, trickling down to the athletes who are required to wear the shoes.

In the wake of the footwear’s debut in September, one UFC lightweight, [autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag], decided to shoot his shot and catch the attention of Johnson on social media.

“Hey brotha @TheRock if you’re a fan of what we do make the deal favorable for the ones modeling your shoe,” McKinney tweeted. “I get it’s not your fault or your business doin it to us, but show us the love you think you are. Get in our corner and support us.”

So, what is the takeaway from McKinney’s tweet? Did he go about this issue the proper way? What can be made of the new footwear deal in general?

MMA Junkie’s “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Nolan King discussed the topic with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia. You can watch their conversation in the video above, or check out this week’s full episode below.

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UFC’s Terrance McKinney to ‘The Rock’ after shoe deal: ‘Get in our corner and support us’

Reports of a partnership between the UFC and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson not benefitting the fighters has caused backlash from critics.

When Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson recently announced a shoe deal between his Project Rock line and the UFC, his social media campaign included a hashtag: #ForThoseWhoWalkTheWalk.

The partnership, Johnson wrote, “is anchored in hard work and legacy.” In other words, it’s about the fighters.

In reality, that’s debatable. According to reports, fighters don’t receive a cut of the revenue from the lucrative deal struck between the UFC and Under Armour, which owns Johnson’s Project Rock collection of shoes and apparel. The deal states that UFC fighters, who already have to wear Venum uniforms as part of an apparel deal, also must wear “The Rock’s” shoes during ceremonial weigh-ins and while walking out to the octagon.

How much say Johnson had on the terms of the agreement isn’t known. But since he’s the face of the brand, UFC lightweight [autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag] took his shot on Twitter by trying to appeal to “The Rock” in a diplomatic way.

“Hey brotha @TheRock if you’re a fan of what we do make the deal favorable for the ones modeling your shoe,” McKinney tweeted. “I get it’s not your fault or your business doin it to us, but show us the love you think you are. Get in our corner and support us.”

Neither the Venum nor Project Rock partnership was collectively bargained with the fighters, but the recently extended Venum deal – like the Reebok uniform deal before it – directly ties into its Promotional Guideline Compliance program in which athletes are paid a flat sum on fight week for adhering to outfitting policies and completing required promotional duties.

As part of the program, fighters are compensated in tiers based on their number of fights with the UFC or if they’re a champion or challenger for a particular event.

No additional pay, reportedly, will go to the fighters from the new Project Rock partnership.

On his way out of the UFC last week in the lead-up to his UFC 279 win over Tony Ferguson, Nate Diaz took a shot at “The Rock’s” shoes during an ESPN interview with Megan Olivi after ceremonial weigh-ins.

“These shoes f*cking suck,” Diaz said, holding one shoe toward the camera. “Look at these shoes. They made me put this sh*t on. Fuck these shoes.”

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Terrance McKinney wants Paddy Pimblett fight, but two legends also come to mind for next matchup

If he doesn’t get Paddy Pimblett, Terrance McKinney has two legends on his radar (respectfully-speaking).

LAS VEGAS – When a microphone was put in front of his face Saturday at UFC on ESPN 40, [autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag] name-dropped one of MMA’s fastest-rising stars.

McKinney (13-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) wants [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] next, either in Abu Dhabi or New York, and he let the world know it after his first-round submission of Erick Gonzalez (14-7 MMA, 0-2 UFC) at the UFC Apex.

“I think it’s just right, man,” McKinney said of the callout at his post-fight news conference. “The fans will love it. I think it’s just about time for us to clash. It’s just a matter of time. Even if it’s not this year, it’s going to come. Me and Paddy will headline a (UFC show). It’s going to be a sellout fight. … I need the crowd, man. I’m like Goku. I need the spirit bomb. Give me that energy. I need the crowd, Dana (White). Come on.”

If the UFC decides to go in a different direction than the Pimblett (19-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) fight, McKinney has two other names in mind – two of the most experienced lightweights on the roster. Their callouts come from a place of respect, he said.

“Either [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] or [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag]. What’s up?” McKinney said. “It would be an honor to fight either one of you guys. You guys are legends. … (I like) just the way they carry themselves outside of the cage and how they’re really about the fighting and how they’re still evolving like true martial artists. Even as they get older, their game is always still evolving. That’s something I look up to.

“… I want to do the respectful route because these guys have been here. They’ve paved the way. I grew up watching them, man. It’d just be an honor to share the cage with them. I just want to test myself as a martial artist. I know with those guys, I can evolve and learn. They’re calculated. They’ve been there, and that’s what I want to experience.”

Miller (35-16 MMA, 24-15 UFC) is on a three-fight winning streak with a finish in each. After TKOs of promotional debutants Erick Gonzalez and Nikolas Motta, Miller submitted Donald Cerrone at UFC 276 in July.

Green (29-13-1 MMA, 14-9-1 UFC) competed in and lost his first UFC headliner in February when he stepped in on short notice to fight Islam Makhachev. The defeat snapped a two-fight streak of wins over Al Iaquinta and Nasrat Haqparast.

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UFC on ESPN 40 post-event facts: Sam Alvey’s winless skid sets all-time record

UFC on ESPN 40 was a historic card with all finishes, but Sam Alvey left with a dubious record attached to his name.

UFC opened its August schedule in historic fashion on Saturday. UFC on ESPN 40 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas featured a finish in all 10 fights.

The main event needed the additional rounds, however, because [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] (11-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) battled with [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] (22-11 MMA, 14-10 UFC) in the fourth frame before securing a TKO stoppage that continued to his rise in the light heavyweight division.

For more on the numbers behind the record-setting event, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC on ESPN 40.

UFC on ESPN 40 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Jamahal Hill nets $6k for main event

UFC on ESPN 40 fighters took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, a program that continued after the UFC’s deal with Venum.

LAS VEGAS – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 40 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $140,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC on ESPN 40 took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card aired on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.

The full UFC on ESPN 40 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Geoff Neal[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Vicente Luque[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Mohammed Usman[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Zac Pauga[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Juliana Miller[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Brogan Walker[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Serghei Spivac[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Augusto Sakai[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag]: $4,500
def. [autotag]Erick Gonzalez[/autotag]: $4,000

[autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Sam Alvey[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Bryan Battle[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Takashi Sato[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Cory McKenna[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Miranda Granger[/autotag]: $4,500

[autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Stephanie Egger[/autotag]: $4,500

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $40,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-40 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2022 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $5,393,000
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $11,560,500

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 40.

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UFC on ESPN 40 video: Terrance McKinney makes quick work of Erick Gonzalez, calls out Paddy Pimblett

Terrance McKinney had his Paddy Pimblett callout ready to go after he submitted Erick Gonzalez at UFC on ESPN 40.

[autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag] returned to the win column in a big way Saturday when he quickly submitted former Combate Global standout [autotag]Erick Gonzalez[/autotag] at UFC on ESPN 40 in Las Vegas.

The lightweight bout kicked off the main card at the UFC Apex and did not last long. McKinney (13-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) submitted Gonzalez (14-7 MMA, 0-2 UFC) via standing rear-naked choke at 2:17 of Round 1.

The finish came with McKinney in the backpack position. Gonzalez unsuccessfully hand-fought as McKinney sunk his arm under the chin. The two fighters leaned sideways but did not fall. The tap came and referee Chris Tognoni intervened.

After the fight, McKinney struck while the iron was hot when he called out rising superstar Paddy Pimblett, who most recently competed in a win July 23 over Jordan Leavitt.

“Paddy ‘The Baddy’, where you at?” McKinney said. “Let’s get it.”

With the win, McKinney keeps his 100 percent finishing rate alive. He has two submissions and one knockout in the UFC, with his only loss a TKO to Drew Dober in March. Meanwhile, Gonzalez comes up short again, losing for the second time inside the distance under the UFC banner.

Up-to-the-minute UFC on ESPN 40 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 40.

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UFC adds Terrance McKinney vs. Erick Gonzalez to Aug. 6 event

Lightweight prospects Terrance McKinney and Erick Gonzalez will look to get back to the win column when they square off in August.

Lightweight prospects will look to get back to the win column when they square off in August.

[autotag]Terrance McKinney[/autotag] (12-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Erick Gonzalez[/autotag] (14-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at UFC Fight Night on Aug. 6, which doesn’t yet have a publicly known venue or location.

Two people with knowledge of the booking confirmed the matchup to MMA Junkie on Thursday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement.

McKinney will aim to rebound after a hot start to his UFC career. The 27-year-old needed just seven seconds to put his name on the map when he starched Matt Frevola at UFC 263 and followed it up with another first-round finish in February when he submitted Fares Ziam. McKinney took a big opportunity when he made a 14-day turnaround to face Drew Dober on short notice at UFC Fight Night 203 in March, but was ultimately stopped in Round 1 after almost finishing Dober early.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez will be in search of his first octagon win. The Combate Americas veteran suffered a knockout loss to Jim Miller in his promotional debut this past October at UFC Fight Night 195 and was scheduled to face Devonte Smith in March, before having to withdraw due to a foot injury.

With the addition, the Aug. 6 lineup includes:

  • Thiago Santos vs. Jamahal Hill
  • Vicente Luque vs. Geoff Neal
  • Miranda Granger vs. Cory McKenna
  • Stephanie Egger vs. Mayra Bueno Silva
  • Erick Gonzalez vs. Terrance McKinney

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MMA Junkie’s Fight of the Month for March: A brutal welterweight war

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from March 2022.

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from March 2022: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Fight of the Month award for March.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting on your choice.

Nominees